Josh McDaniels made former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow a first-round NFL draft pick Thursday. The Denver Broncos traded three picks to Baltimore for the Ravens' first-round pick, then took Tebow at No. 25 with two more polished quarterbacks, Texas' Colt McCoy and Notre Dame's Jimmy
Clausen, still available. Tebow helped Florida win two national championships in the Gators run-heavy system, but many wondered whether he was worthy of a first-round selection because his skills may not translate to some NFL teams' passing-centric offenses.
McDaniels believes Tebow will fit in just fine in Denver. The Broncos gave up choices in the second (#43), third (#70) and fourth (#114) rounds to move back into the first round and draft Florida's southpaw quarterback, whom McDaniels had raved about last week.
Although it's highly unlikely he'll be the starting quarterback in five months' time, Tebow will begin his NFL career Sept. 12 in his hometown of Jacksonville when the Broncos play the Jaguars in the season opener.
Right now he's behind Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and maybe even Tom
Brandstater at quarterback, although with his athleticism, Tebow could play tight end or on special teams, too. Although he has started to correct his sidearm throwing motion, Tebow will have to adjust to taking snaps under center and dropping back while dodging the pass rush after operating almost exclusively out of the shotgun in college.
Three spots before picking Tebow, the Broncos selected wide receiver Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech with the 22nd pick. The Broncos needed a big, athletic wide receiver after trading two-time Pro Bowler Brandon Marshall to the Miami Dolphins last week, and at 6-foot-3 and 224 pounds he fit the bill.